Who can participate in a Jihad according to the Quran or Hadith?
Does it say anywhere in the Quran or Hadith that only men are permitted to participate in a jihad ? If so, or not and it says other qualifications, can you please state what surah or part? Thanks! I am not talking about Jihad Akbar (of the personal struggle because I know that is a fundamental part of any Muslim's life) but I am talking about the Jihad Kabeer or the struggle against the forces of Satan and all who oppose the spread of Islam. So I'm asking in relations to, NOT the inner struggle, but the outer one.
Public Comments
- Jihad is one's personal struggle, not just a physical battle. Therefore, everyone participates in jihad--your own personal struggle to live the life of submission to Allah. And this personal struggle is the "greater" jihad according to the Prophet (peace be upon him). My understanding is that women accompanied the Prophet (pbuh) on battles, but I've never heard of them actually engaging in battle. But again, the preferred jihad is the personal struggle. For example, a woman may find it difficult to wear hijab in American public. This is her personal jihad, praying for and trying to find the strength to wear hijab despite the stares and comments she may encounter. Try searching hadith here at the site I've listed below.
- Every believers. (Surah Al Baqarah 208-216) In the beginning of Islam, there was a moslem woman who became a martyr wielding a sword protecting prophet Muhammad (PBUH). Sorry I don't have the references for it. You may look for it in books of history of Islam. But I believe that women can do jihad in different ways. When they pregnant and give labor to their children, they are considered doing jihad. Also they can do jihad (as in war) not in the front line, instead they provide support for the front liner. When moslems do jihad, there's a rule moslems have to follow (i.e. not destroying trees and plantations, not killing women, children, and elder people, and not destroying other religion's worshipping places). That's why Iraqi fighters captures US women troops instead of killing them in battle.
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